‘Your command, my lord.’
Open the door.
‘My loyalty to my lord.’
The destroyed fissure of the masquerade was reopened.
Melissia Masquerade, the Lair’s end-of-the-year event came to an end.
The raid team was in a state of shock.
For an unknown reason, the fissure had been destroyed and a different fissure reappeared instead. Everyone was aware of how different logics applied in fissures and dungeons but it came as a different shock altogether when it directly correlated with their lives.
In doubt, Lair organised an exploration team after the event.
“Sir. There’s a report that they found something at B24 of the 39th room. They found… huh?”
“…”
“They’re saying there was a corpse hanging in the sky!”
“Don’t worry.”
“Ah, it’s Professor Wei Yan of the Azure Dragon study group…”
“Whatever mate. Just clean it up and leave.”
“Sir? What do you mean?”
“That’s what the higher ups are saying.”
The captain was clearly aware of the fact that their team was just for show, for the outsiders to see. Although he was filled with unease and doubt, they didn’t create a fuss out of it. Since the boss was dead, the dungeon will be closed in a few days along with the truth.
After receiving the report from Minamoto, Lair described the raid differently.
The moment a problem occurred with the fissure, the raid team immediately halted the raid and followed the emergency regulations.
There were close to no casualties from cadets, guards and Lair staff members. Instead of focusing on the ‘unidentifiable disaster’, Lair spread news of the excellent steps taken in an emergency situation.
In this era natural disasters were common. With the way the news reports had been written, people showed less interest in the emergency situation itself.
“The AT team, that has misused the artifact during the prior investigation, is responsible for…”
Claiming it to be due to an improper dungeon exploration beforehand, Lair fired several innocent staff members,
“That fissure as big as a building suddenly started crumbling down…!”
And though the raid team had done nothing but stay still, they were still treated as victorious heroes.
“Woah, that was really close then.”
“Thank goodness…”
The entire world paying attention to Lair, was merely grateful for the young superhumans of their countries coming out safe and unscathed. What had happened inside wasn’t revealed.
Just like that, the lights of the masquerade went out.
*
Meanwhile, inside the airship ‘Guardian’.
“…”
[Shadow of an Archduke (SS)], which had discarded its female mask, sat down on the deck and gazed down at the world. The wind felt cold.
It had been a while since he had ordered an espresso but he was only able to drink it now because of several sudden commands from Yu Jitae.
Sip.
Due to the passing of time, the coffee tasted cold.
‘…’
Wei Yan was dead,
The undetectables’ plan had been ruined,
Ysayle Khalifa the disaster-rank, had lost half of her power,
And the catastrophe-ranked Noah had died.
If this was changed to numbers, it was like the total power level of the undetectables being reduced by 20%. Driving this much impact into the demons that were internationally spread across, was impossible if not for this event.
The necessary task had finally come to an end at a decent timing.
Melissia Masquerade would perhaps be the turning point of the seventh iteration.
How would the undetectables, who has parasitic roots inside Lair, react to this? How would the demons move past this point? The clone who shared portions of Yu Jitae’s memories, drew a rough image in his head.
Demons knew how to bide their time.
In other words they were insanely good at waiting and because of that, there wouldn’t be anything troublesome happening any time soon.
‘…’
For that to happen, there were lots of things he had to do.
After pouring the coffee down its throat, the clone rose up from the seat.
There was a person he had to meet.
***
Among the heavily wounded people was a middle-aged man wearing a pair of sunglasses.
He was inside a private room being healed by army surgeons and healers. Because he was hiding his face with a fake skin, the surgeons nagged him to stop drinking alcohol. Naturally BM did not listen.
He had no choice but to drink. 3 of his 13 chimeras had died and the other chimeras weren’t in a good state either.
‘Almost died helplessly.’
Although he hadn’t heard the specific details yet, it appeared that Yu Jitae had killed Noah.
BM felt disturbed for several reasons.
The destroyed chimeras had been made from Arandot. Since one of the few good memories of that place had disappeared, he wasn’t in a good mood.
It was also a great impact to his fighting strength. The international rank of 2, was only possible because he had the fitting power level to support it.
‘I knew a day like this would come eventually but…’
Even though he knew it wouldn’t be his position forever, he nonetheless felt bitter as the number ‘2’ representing him was his only source of pride.
The thoughts regarding Yu Jitae also muddled his head. The man who had brought him alcohol from Arandot, was stronger than anyone else despite previously never showing himself once. He spoke of absurd ideas but those became realities and he personally ended the task.
‘All decisions had been made by an individual, and he also moved as an individual.’
The fact that an individual’s influence instead of a social system could shake the world, was a very dangerous situation.
BM imagined a dangerous future. What if Yu Jitae was determined to point his sword at humanity?
‘…’
Of course, BM didn’t think that would happen. What he saw from the side revealed that he was friendly to humanity.
However.
It was a question that would obviously be asked if someone else found out. The fate of humanity hanging on an individual’s hands? Other individuals will have differing opinions, the crowd will have a negative look on it, while the world would view it pessimistically.
They would try to use his strength in some way or another, or would beg for assuredness or resist. Thinking about it made BM feel tired already.
‘Damn it.’
Yu Jitae’s existence had to be hidden away from the world. In that case, what was his task as the only individual who currently had ties with him?
It was when BM was absorbed in thinking about something he had never even imagined of.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded from the door before Yu Jitae opened it and walked into the private room.
“Ah… welcome.”
“Your body’s fine?”
“Well, it’s tough. What about you, no injuries?”
Yu Jitae nodded slightly and took a small weapon out from his inner pocket to hand over to BM.
“This…”
BM widened his eyes.
It was a mana gun flashing in blue. The sheer amount of mana embedded inside was enough to add to the weight.
This was a gun-type artifact considered to be the highest grade even from Level 3 artifacts, and was the gift Wei Yan had received from the undetectables.
[Peace Invoker]
With a dumbfounded expression, BM fidgeted with the gun.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
It was because there had been a command from Yu Jitae, to make sure there was no loss to the ranker’s fighting capability.
“You have to protect it; your rank.”
After chatting with BM, the clone moved once again. This time, it had to meet Minamoto.
***
A scent tickled her nose.
It was relaxing and comfortable to her heart, and something warm and soft was being immersed into her body. The old lady felt that way for the first time in a long time.
“…”
When she slowly opened her eyes, she found a beautiful young girl in front. Her grass-coloured eyes flickered from sunlight and because she looked like an angel she saw in her childhood dreams, the old woman blankly stared at the girl’s face.
Then, she suddenly came to her senses.
“I’m fine.”
Li Hwa abruptly raised her body.
Bom, who had been healing her, widened her eyes. Li Hwa’s body was pretty much in a mess since the overstrained manipulation of mana had internally injured her as a side effect.
“You should stay down.”
“Like I said, I’m okay. I know my body the best.”
Several bones had been fractured here and there, and there were several internal wounds. It should be painful for her to breathe and yet the old lady naturally stood up and began walking off.
They were near the Lake of Life, where Yu Jitae and the dragons had travelled to and came across Myung Yongha in the past.
“What a beautiful lake.”
With steady steps, Li Hwa approached the lake and kneeled in front of it. Her shrunk body made her already-small body appear even tinier.
“That bastard wasn’t Ysayle Khalifa right?”
“Yes… I think it was her puppet.”
“I see… Ah, I thought I was gone when something exploded.”
“…”
“Thank you. Seriously.”
“It’s great that you’re safe.”
Back then,
Bom had been able to cast teleportation slightly before the explosion. If she hadn’t realised something was strange with Ysayle Khalifa, she wouldn’t have made it in time.
“…Did I fight well?”
“Yes?”
“I was so angry that I can’t remember it well…”
“Hmm…”
Li Hwa and Bom chatted for a bit about the things that had happened at the masquerade. It was mainly Bom telling her what she saw.
The old woman quietly listened to her words as Bom carefully reopened her mouth.
“If it was me, I think I would get angry.”
“Hnn?”
“I mean if I realised it was fake after all that waiting.”
Slowly, the old lady shook her head and laughed.
“I’m used to waiting.”
Soon, a presence was felt nearby the Lake of Life.
“Ah, ahjussi.”
Yu Jitae came to pick Bom up.
“Thanks for your work, Li Hwa.”
“You too, young man. Thank you.”
Bom followed Yu Jitae, before turning her head slightly and looking back. The old lady was still facing the lake with a blank gaze and she remained still for a very long time.
***
In the residential area, on the way back.
It had been 2 days since they left home but for Yu Jitae who had been wandering in Noah’s dream, it had been several months.
Cadets were wearing thick clothes from the cold weather while the sky felt closer than before. Bom was walking right next to him.
In the distance he could see the dormitory buildings.
That was when Yu Jitae stopped his feet and turned towards Bom. He then looked inside her.
Her dragon heart was completely empty and there were traces of her forcibly squeezing mana out. Li Hwa was alive and the clone had discovered how the 141st Public Garden had been ruined from a large explosion.
It was obvious what Bom had done at that place. She must have squeezed her mana out in order to save Li Hwa.
“Ahjussi.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t like you openly staring like that.”
“Huh?”
Only then did Yu Jitae realise that his gaze had been towards her chest.
“…”
When he raised his head back up he found Bom wearing a smile.
She knew what Yu Jitae was looking at, and yet was making a joke. However, Yu Jitae did not respond regarding that because instead, there was something he had to mention.
“Bom.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you push yourself.”
“Me?”
“You did. From what I see.”
“I just tried my best.”
“I told you to run if need be.”
“Hnn?”
Despite clearly knowing her mistake, she talked back without an end. Finding that somewhat cheeky, Yu Jitae pinched her cheeks.
“Aut…”
“Don’t do dangerous things.”
“It wawn’t dangerwous…”
“It was. Although you weren’t injured.”
“No it wawn’t…”
“If you don’t listen to me like that, I can’t bring you along. It doesn’t matter whether you’re helpful or not.”
“Nnn, it hurrs…”
She appeared to be in pain but did not avoid his hands. Her eyes turned watery instead.
There probably was a reason for her actions. Maybe it was due to her personality which wanted to save people.
“I’ve said it countless times. You can’t die, nor get hurt. If you get hurt even slightly, I’ll get really angry. You know what I’m talking about so be a bit safer from now on.”
“…”
“You understand?”
“…”
With teary eyes, Bom resentfully stared at Yu Jitae before slowly giving a nod. Only after receiving a reply did he let go of his hands as Bom rubbed her reddened cheeks.
“Let’s go.”
“No? Not yet.”
But this time, it was Bom that blocked Yu Jitae from the front. Wearing a tenacious look, she looked up at Yu Jitae but she didn’t appear intimidating because of her red cheeks.
“Did you kill demons as cleanly as possible, ahjussi?”
He thought about it. Before killing the demons he had suppressed his desire a few times. At least Wei Yan’s body was intact.
Therefore he had tried his hardest.
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t kill enemies that didn’t have to be killed?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you let the innocent people survive?”
He couldn’t.
“…Yeah.”
“You’re lying.”
“I forgot.”
Then, Bom suddenly took a step closer and pinched his cheeks. Judging from the tendons bulging out from her thin wrists, she seemed to be pinching as hard as she could, but it did not hurt at all.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…It doesn’t hurt?”
“Yeah.”
“Why am I the only one suffering…”
What a kid.
When he moved his feet forward, Bom followed suit.
It was time to go back home.
*
Unit 301.
The house’s door was pushed open. A familiar shoe rack, a familiar scent of lavender and a familiar scenery of the house welcomed him.
“Huh? Ahjussi?”
In surprise, Yeorum, Kaeul and Gyeoul walked towards Yu Jitae and Bom.
“What. What. What’s going on! Why did you go out without saying anything! Where did you go? With just Bom-unni?! What is it? My intuition is good!”
Kaeul pressured Yu Jitae with a fierce glare.
“I told you I had something to do.”
“You did. But I thought you were coming back after a few hours! Bom-unni as well, why did you go without saying anything!”
“Did I? Sorry.”
Bom hugged Kaeul, but the enraged baby chicken still wriggled around and pointed at Yu Jitae.
“What did you do! Just the two of you outside! What’d you do! What’d you dooo!”
On top of the baby chicken’s head, the real baby chicken also flapped its wings forward and pointed at Yu Jitae. ‘Are you aware of how long my guardian deity had been waiting for?’ it chirped.
Yeorum floated a crooked smile.
“Look at you guys…”
“Un?”
“A male and female sleeping outside?”
“That’s not what happened, Yeorum.”
“It must have been pretty fun, ey? Why are your cheeks red; are you into that?”
“No?”
“How do you know what I’m talking about. What are you into?”
“…Who knows?”
When Bom was forced into a corner, Yeorum gave a sneer.
“Count me in as well next time.”
“What are you saying…”
Meanwhile, Yu Jitae felt a gaze from Gyeoul, who was pushed back by Yeorum and Kaeul. She was looking at Yu Jitae with concern.
When Yu Jitae walked forward, she naturally extended her arms forward like a habit. In his arms, Gyeoul carefully pulled the shirt down from his chest while throwing glances at him realtime.
“Why.”
“…”
The necklace was still hanging on Yu Jitae’s chest.
Would she know. When he was inside Noah’s dream, facing another world meeting its apocalypse for several months, Yu Jitae often stared at his necklace when he thought of home.
Her expression eased slightly after checking the necklace but she still did not appear fully relieved. Gazing up at Yu Jitae, she asked with her unique quiet voice.
“…Did somessing, happen?”
He wondered why, but it felt like he had finally returned to the place he belonged to.
“…Un? Somessing?”
“No, nothing happened.”
Finally her expression became more relaxed.
Yu Jitae faintly smiled.
“What about you.”